RANGERS: STATUS QUO CANNOT HOLD
RANGERS were last night considering their next move after insisting the current SPFL leadership structure ‘cannot hold’ despite the EGM result.
The Ibrox club’s bid to force an independent investigation into the handling of last month’s vote to end the lower-league season was backed by 13 clubs, with 27 against and two abstentions. While that 31-per-cent support was well short of the necessary 75-per-cent approval required to trigger a probe, Rangers
expressed a positive view on the numbers they gathered and are prepared to pursue their concerns further.
It is understood they are weighing up several options, with a legal challenge to SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster one possibility highlighted in the dossier submitted last week to support their EGM case. Rangers had previously called for the suspension of Doncaster and legal advisor Rod McKenzie when they first mounted an attack on the SPFL’s corporate governance last month.
League chairman Murdoch MacLennan yesterday insisted Scottish football ‘cannot afford the distraction of further infighting or legal challenges’. However, a cessation of hostilities is highly unlikely as Rangers made it clear they see a continuing need for issues to be addressed.
A club statement issued yesterday evening said: ‘We note the result of the vote taken at this morning’s General Meeting and wish to thank all clubs for listening to our concerns, giving up their time to read our report and for voting. ‘We also wish to place on record our thanks to our fellow requisitioners, who showed courage and acted with dignity throughout. Furthermore, to those clubs who voted in favour of the resolution, we appreciate your support and recognise your desire for increased accountability at the top of our national sport. ‘Today’s vote has erased the false narrative of this issue simply being a conflict between one club and the SPFL. All we sought was urgently required scrutiny, respect for all member clubs, fairness and transparency. ‘Significantly, support for the Hearts, Stranraer and Rangers requisition spanned the four professional divisions. Member clubs, recognising the need for Scottish football to improve its governance and professionalism, have moved beyond sporting rivalries and it would be unwise to regard this result as any kind of endorsement of the SPFL executive. ‘A light has been shone on the SPFL’s governance and regardless of the attempts to debunk our report, there is widespread acknowledgment that it highlighted serious issues and failings which remain to be addressed. ‘A management culture which not only fears accountability and scrutiny, but which actively campaigns against it, is unhealthy and breeds continued mistrust. This culture, so deeply embedded, must be addressed if Scottish football is to flourish. ‘It is clear that many members have lost confidence in the SPFL leadership and the need for change will not diminish. The status quo cannot hold.’ Hearts — and Stranraer — joined Rangers in submitting the original EGM requisition, while Aberdeen and Livingston yesterday provided further Premiership backing. Pittodrie chairman Dave Cormack remained adamant it had been the right thing to do as he admitted his misgivings about Doncaster’s leadership. While stressing he will respect the EGM result and work with the SPFL amid the coronavirus crisis, Cormack hopes the message sent by almost a third of clubs will lead to self-reflection within the league. ‘Our decision to vote for today’s resolution had nothing to do with Rangers, or Hearts and Stranraer for that matter,’ he said. ‘It had everything to do with Aberdeen and our real concerns over governance and transparency of our game, in particular with the SPFL leadership.
‘We believe that the objective assessment of recent events, an independent inquiry would have provided, was the best way of reaching a position from which everyone could move forward. ‘But with 31 per cent of clubs voting for the resolution plus two abstentions, it’s clear there is much work to be done between the SPFL and member clubs. ‘Our hope is that the SPFL will reflect on the vote and look seriously at how governance and transparency can be improved for the benefit of all its members and in the interests of Scottish football.’